Valve has announced the beginning of the Limited Test for Counter-Strike 2 on its official website. With the game not yet available on Steam, we’ll have to wait a bit longer. Either way, this testing phase will provide us with the opportunity to explore the game’s latest features and enhancements.
Features
Some of the features detailed on the official website contain the following information:
Dynamic Smoke Grenades
Smoke grenades in Counter-Strike 2 have undergone a significant upgrade, becoming dynamic volumetric objects that interact with the environment, lighting, gunfire, and explosions. They now offer more tactical possibilities, as bullets and HE grenades can push smoke to clear sightlines or expand occlusion briefly. The smoke will also seep through doorways, broken windows, and corridors and interact with other smokes.
Today we're excited to announce Counter-Strike 2. Counter-Strike 2 is an overhaul to every system, every piece of content, and every part of the C-S experience. First, let's talk about smoke grenades: pic.twitter.com/iTtguRHJ0S
— CS:GO (@CounterStrike) March 22, 2023
Sub-tick Updates
The introduction of sub-tick updates to Counter-Strike 2 ensures that the tick rate no longer affects moving, shooting, or throwing. This new architecture lets servers know the exact moment an action occurs, resulting in more responsive gameplay and consistent grenade throws, regardless of tick rate.
The most important part of every Counter-Strike match? Shooting and movement. We're going beyond tick rates in Counter-Strike 2: pic.twitter.com/tR1CMUC4gr
— CS:GO (@CounterStrike) March 22, 2023
Map Improvements:
Maps in Counter-Strike 2 have been categorized into three types – Full Overhaul Maps, Upgrade Maps, and Touchstone Maps. These classifications provide varying levels of lighting and character readability improvements, with some maps being fully rebuilt using Source 2 tools and rendering features.
Location, location, location. Maps in Counter-Strike are core to the game, and maps in Counter-Strike 2 are being improved in every way: pic.twitter.com/P4oMQslaKB
— CS:GO (@CounterStrike) March 22, 2023
Source 2 Tools
Valve will provide community map makers access to Source 2 tools and rendering features, making building, experimenting, and iterating easier. The Source 2 Item Workshop is also set to launch later during the limited test.
Item Upgrades
Players can bring their entire CS:GO inventory to Counter-Strike 2, with all items benefiting from the upgraded Source 2 lighting and materials. In addition, stock weapons will feature high-resolution models, with some weapon finishes utilizing these new models.
Hi-Def Visual Effects
Counter-Strike 2 boasts reimagined visual effects for UI and gameplay, leveraging Source 2 lighting and particle systems. This update covers everything from water, explosions, fire, and smoke to muzzle flashes, bullet tracers, and impact effects.
Gameplay Visuals and Environment Effects
The game’s most critical gameplay visuals have been redesigned for improved readability. Environmental effects like explosions and fire have been reauthored for enhanced visual fidelity and consistency.
UI Enhancements
The UI in Counter-Strike 2 has received a complete overhaul, with fresh visual effects throughout the HUD, aimed at improving both aesthetics and communication of important game states.
Accurate Audio
Counter-Strike 2’s sounds have been reworked for better environmental reflection, distinctiveness, and expression of game states. The audio has also been rebalanced for a more comfortable listening experience.
Delving in the Limited Test, Q&A
Players are selected for the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test based on a number of factors deemed important by the Counter-Strike 2 development team, including (but not limited to) recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing.
Players are selected based on a number of factors deemed important by the Counter-Strike 2 development team, including (but not limited to) recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing.
If you are chosen to participate in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test you will receive a notification on the main menu of CS:GO. If you receive an invitation select “ENROLL” and begin your download. When the download is complete launch CS:GO and select the “Limited Test” option to play the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test.
More players will be added to the Limited Test over time. Keep checking your CS:GO main menu to see if you have received an invite.
Counter-Strike 2 is expected to ship Summer 2023.
Initially the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test will offer Deathmatch and Unranked Competitive matchmaking on Dust2. Future limited test releases will offer other game modes, maps, and features.
If you encounter bugs during the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test please send an email to cs2team [at] valvesoftware [dot] com and title your email “CS2LT Report”. In the body of your email please include a detailed description of the bug, reproduction steps, and any screenshots or other helpful information so the Counter-Strike 2 team may investigate.
Yes. All of your weapon finishes, stickers, and other CS:GO inventory items will be available to use in Counter-Strike 2. Please report any inventory item and weapon finish bugs you encounter using the previoulsy mentioned bug report process.
No. During the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test players cannot modify inventory items within Counter-Strike 2. This includes applying stickers, scraping stickers, using Trade Up Contracts, and other ways players can modify their in-game items. If you would like to modify your items you will need to do so in CS:GO.
Yes. Please note, you will only play with and against other players playing the same version of Counter-Strike as you. Counter-Strike 2 players will play with and against other Counter-Strike 2 players, and CS:GO players will play with and against other CS:GO players.
Yes. XP in the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test counts and will carry over to CS:GO.
Yes.
Not initially. Stay tuned to the CS:GO blog for information about workshop map availability.
Not initially. Stay tuned to the CS:GO blog for information about community server availability.
No. Accounts with VAC or game bans in CS:GO cannot play Counter-Strike 2 on VAC-secured servers.
Yes. If you have a competitive cooldown in CS:GO you cannot matchmake in Counter-Strike 2 and vice versa.
No. The Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test is only available on Windows.
